Entertaining Newquay hold on for priceless win

NEWQUAY are fast becoming The Entertainers after a thrilling match in front of another big crowd at Mount Wise on Wednesday night.

For some of the 470 supporters, and possibly manager Shaun Middleton, they are perhaps a little too entertaining as their open style left them hanging on at the end of a game they should have won comfortably.

Newly-promoted Bovey Tracey pushed them all the way, especially in the eight minutes of time added on, but just couldn’t find an equaliser.

Middleton said: “The game was, as expected, very physical and fast.

“I thought we were exceptional in the first half, we looked extremely dangerous and threatening every attack. I also felt we played well across the park, and our second goal was great football and fast.

“Second half was more of a battle whilst we were still creating. Bovey were also relentless in their pursuit in getting a result and they may feel like they could have gained a point.

“They chucked everything at us in last 10 minutes and (Stuart) Bowker coming on made things difficult and caused us problems.

“My overall thinking was that it was just about the right result and an important one.”

After a bright start by the visitors, it was Newquay who took the lead in the 14th minute with an excellent goal from Callam Mconie, who broke through the middle and with options left, he chose to go it alone and fired a low shot into the corner of the net.

The Cornishmen came close to doubling their lead in the 27th minute when Louis Price’s shot was blocked, but the ball fell invitingly for Ross Fallens, who saw his close range effort saved well by former St Austell keeper Andrew Collings.

With Al Ahmed in sparkling form along the right, it seemed only a matter of time before the home side stretched their lead, but it was the visitors who struck next, six minutes before the break. On three occasions Newquay failed to clear the danger from an attack along their left, and eventually the ball fell to Rudi McKinnon, who drilled an unstoppable shot past Shaun Semmens from 18 yards.

But within a minute Newquay were back in front when a lovely passing move caught Bovey cold and ended with Price dinking the ball around Collings into the net for a high-quality goal.

Cieran Bridger, Bovey’s most influential player on the night, should have equalised just before the break when he was presented with an opportunity from 15 yards, but placed his shot inches wide.

Newquay suffered a blow when central defender Jacob Kevern had to go off injured just before the hour, but it didn’t affect them too badly as they continued to create chance after chance at the other end.

In the 62nd minute Jack Bray-Evans saw a powerful effort blocked, but the ball fell into the path of Price, who looked certain to score, however he lifted his shot over the bar.

Two minutes later Mconie was sent away along the left, taking the ball to the edge of the penalty area and lifting it over the advancing Collings before shooting towards goal, but a defender got back to make the clearance.

The nerves of the home supporters appeared to be eased in the 71st minute when Mconie was tripped in the penalty area. Bray-Evans’ spot-kick was saved by Collings, but the Newquay striker finished from the rebound to make it 3-1.

A minute later Mconie should have increased the lead when he raced clear again, but he sent his shot high and wide with Bovey all at sea at the back.

This was the signal for the visitors to step up the pressure and they got a second goal 12 minutes from time when Bridger’s corner evaded everybody and ended up in the net to set up a tense finale.

Bovey continued to press in search of an equaliser, but the nearest they got was a break by substitute Jack Brimming in the last minute of time added on. He latched on to a long clearance but needed too much time as Newquay recovered.

The fact that the final whistle was greeted with as many sighs as cheers said it all – but it was another three points in the bag and a second home win in a week for the Peppermints.

NEWQUAY: Shaun Semmens; Jamie Edlin, Harry Downing (capt), Jacob Kevern (Sam Fearon, 59), Tom Moxham; Connor Paine, Ross Fallens (Tom Shepherd, 79); Al Ahmed, Callam Mconie, Jack Bray-Evans; Louis Price (Alex Cole, 86). Subs not used: Jacob Grange, Rudi Sharp.

Peppermints’ man-of-the-match: Al Ahmed.